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Bema
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The bema had its origin in antiquity as raised platforms used by Greeks and Romans for speakers addressing assemblies. In Greek law courts the two parties to a dispute presented their arguments each from separate bemas. Bema was also used as the name for a place of judgment, that is the raised seat of the judge, as described in the New Testament, in Matthew 27:19 and John 19:13, and further, as the seat of the Roman emperor, in Acts 25:10, and of [[God]], in Romans 14:10, when speaking in judgment.
Bema, or Binah, was also used in reference to the raised platform in the [[synagogue]]s of the Jews, upon which the Ark rests containing the Scrolls of the [[Torah]], thus being a prototype for Christian [[church]]es where the platform supports the [[altar]] table upon which rests the [[Holy Gospel]].
==External links==
*[http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/bema Wiktionary: Bema]
*[http://www.searchgodsword.org/enc/isb/view.cgi?number=T5213 Bema]
*[http://www.answers.com/main/ntq-tname-bema-fts_start- Bema Answers: Bema]
[[Category: Church architecture]]
